Michigan’s Most Inspiring Stories

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.

Kennedy Hatfield

I started sharing fitness content on Instagram and TikTok (@kennerd.fit) in May 2022. Since then, I’ve built a supportive community of women who share a similar journey to mine: women who want to improve themselves while balancing a 9-to-5 job. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with well-known companies, meeting amazing people, and, most importantly, sharing content that reflects my passions and inspires others. Read More>>

Lorinda Lindsay

Our business was born from COVID. My husband and I hosted a rehearsal dinner for my nephew. Since we were still in the midst of a pandemic, we were leary of having a lot of people in our home. We decided to purchase a tent to host the event. Everything was so well put together, people asked where we rented the tent? Who decorated? Who cooked? When they found out we did everything, people started asking us to rent the tent and provide other services. So Epic Event Services was born, I guess by accident. That was in May 2021 and we haven’t looked back. Read More>>

Marcus Tolic

Eventually, I decided to follow my heart and pursue this passion seriously, so I got licensed as a builder in Michigan. That decision transformed my life and career. Now, my business is taking off, and I’m incredibly grateful to be doing work I love every day. I’m blessed to have a fantastic team by my side and a group of clients who trust me to bring their visions to life. It’s been a journey, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Read More>>

Delphine François

I arrived in 2013 as the wife of an expatriate. My husband, working for a French automotive supplier, brought us to Detroit for his job. As a mother of three children, I initially had a lot of work settling the family, but I was eventually able to explore my new country. I began discovering the city of Detroit through my camera lens. At first, I was drawn to the ruins, but soon I grew to love its history and its people. To better convey my vision of the city, I developed my skills as a photographer as well as my abilities as a guide. Read More>>

Shar Mohr

We thought that keeping these old games up and running with so many people playing them would be a struggle, but the games have been working pretty beautifully since opening. There’s always something that needs work, but that is the nature of arcade gaming for anyone in the business. The biggest challenge was summer slump. During the summer months people want to be outside and at the local festivals, so business slows down quite a bit during these times. But the lakeshore tourists really showed up and supported us a lot during this time, which was great for business. Read More>>

Natalie Bycraft

Along with painting and writing, I provide graphic design and editing services through my company, Multipassionite (intentionally named to honor those of us with a wide variety of passions and interests). Back in 2018, I started creating logos and apparel designs as a freelancer for companies, gradually gaining clients across a wide variety of industries. And on the editing front, I provide developmental and line editing for other writers on their manuscripts. In 2023, I officially upgraded my freelance work to a real LLC, and that’s when Multipassionite was born. Read More>>

Angela Pena

I had a few brands reach out which I had no idea what to do or respond with but I just went for it. I loved styling outfits, but I loved the private messages from other woman of similar size telling me they related and were grateful for my inspo videos even more. Unfortunately only five months in and almost 10,000 followers I was hacked, hacked like the rookie I was. I had not set up any securities on my business account and therefore lost everything. It rocked me, and to be honest I decided I didn’t want to start over again. It was too much and I was dealing with imposter syndrome and just very discouraged. Read More>>

Lilith Von Tal

I decided to step away from the world of acting, the singular thing I had dedicated my life to till that point in time, the only thing I really knew how to do. I quit acting without a knowledge of what was next for me. I spent time in stillness until a quest to find my voice became a driving force in my life. I realized I spent my artistic life until that point telling others’ stories and I felt a desperate need to find my own voice and tell my own stories. That’s where burlesque came in. Read More>>

Danielle Boyers

Which led to helping other pageant moms with their daughters’ hair and makeup. I fell in love with the artistry and challenged myself to always do better. The best feeling though, is seeing the joy on a client’s face after the work I have done. What started off as a hobby, ultimately gave me an opportunity to invest in my talents. I have been doing hair & makeup for over 7 years and learned special effects makeup (SFX) within the last 5 years. I am now a freelance hair & makeup artist and feeling blessed that I found work doing something I truly love. Read More>>

Kamal Smith

I wouldn’t say the road was hard or easy. I think my strong belief in God paved the way. If I had to describe my road in a word it would be PATIENCE. When you believe so much in a dream, you’re going to have your ups and downs. That being said, sure I was broke at one point of time, I got evicted, and even had my car repossessed. But there was never a situation where I stopped believing in self. Just had to stay patient and trust. Read More>>

Linda Macchiarolo

A lot has happened in the 31 years since…three kids, five dogs, five stores! We now just have the one location, and have been focused on making it the best in can be for the past 25 years. We’ve learned a lot about what drives excellence in retail, and have done our best to put what we learned into practice…and our store is doing better than ever. Read More>>

Jennifer Alice

I am a Michigan-based artist who has been working in multiple mediums since 2002, but in recent years I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with watercolor. My work draws inspiration from the vibrant hues of nostalgia and the stark landscapes of my Midwestern roots, bringing out the beauty in everyday scenes with a unique, unfiltered perspective. Read More>>

Zendalannette Thomas

This decision marked the beginning of a journey that was as challenging as it was transformative. At first, the path felt overwhelming and emotionally intense. But with time, I embraced being uncomfortable, and in those moments, I discovered resilience. I gradually became stronger, opening space for myself to be ‘Ever-Evolving’—a phrase that eventually became the name of my blog, “Ever-Evolving…” Read More>>

Sydney Jones

I can’t say the road has been smooth. In fact, when the Lord originally gave me the idea, I misunderstood what He wanted it to be. The first thing I did was plan an event for single believers in Metro Detroit to meet. Two weeks prior I ended up having to cancel the event due to the male and female ratio being too far off to move forward with the event. This was definitely a set back causing me to take some time and submit the idea back to God. After taking some time to hear from the Lord and receive clarity, I understood that it wasn’t about match making, it was about self development and growing relationship with Him as we prepare for kingdom marriage as individuals. Read More>>

Alyesaar Abdullah

No, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road; there have been several challenges along the way, including moments of financial uncertainty, navigating a competitive market, building a strong team, balancing work-life demands, and overcoming initial skepticism from potential clients or investors when introducing new ideas. Read More>>

Amber Szabo

A new business seemed like the perfect way to engage and invest into this new place. When figuring out what business to start my daily cup of tea and full tea cabinet of curated high quality loose leaf tea became the focus of my passion. Tea had been a constant thread in the tapestry of my life, from tea times with my grandmother, spending 36 hours in London with tea at Westminster, to a tea garden tour in the Indian jungle. If you come to my house or place of business the first thing I will offer you besides a warm hello is a cuppa tea! I hope to introduce many people to thier new favorite tea and the ritual of rest that it can bring. Read More>>

Landria Johnson

Over the next few years The Sassy Olive, now graduated to a set up in her tiny Ann Arbor apartment and being sold online through an Etsy store and at area craft shows, helped pay her way through graduate school. The day after graduating from U of M in April 2017 with her Master’s of Public Health in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, she did something that would have been unthinkable when she sewed her first headband just two years before – she moved back to her hometown of Allegan and got the keys to a 200 square foot storefront on the main street of Downtown Allegan. Read More>>

Nyah Pierson

However, I was willing to commit to the work ethic and effort needed for a musical artist. This was a direct result of a personal challenge that I committed myself to – put out an EP of my work and see where it took me. The project started as a means to prove to myself that I could write music and even make a body of work to begin with. I found a local studio and producer then got to work. After the first night of recording in the studio, something shifted within me like this was where I was always supposed to be, and thus – V Da Queen was born. Read More>>

Christen McGregor

After 11-years in Japan, I decided it was time to say goodbye. Now that I’m beginning to settle in Michigan, I want to maintain those internal flames for Japan and tech by sharing content on those subjects on YouTube and TikTok. In particular, I want to bring recognition on these outlets to local Japanese cafes and restaurants in Southeastern Michigan. Although I primarily focus on video content, I’m expanding into the world of photography as well, with the goal of showcasing local food and small businesses. Read More>>

Meaghan Murphy

I guess I would start my story in Chicago, where I studied film at Columbia College Chicago. I always knew that I wanted to work in a creative field and I was always attracted to film. Working on both student and professionals films taught me skills you can’t learn anywhere else. There were early mornings, late nights and a lot of hurry up and wait but I loved every second of it. Read More>>

Zoe & Kyle Thompson

I say side hobby because we knew in the back of our minds we would never be able to experience that lifestyle because we both worked in hospitals, Kyle as a pharmacist, and myself as an RN, and our lives were deeply rooted in Michigan! We were newly married, owned a house, had great jobs, and loved being close to family and friends. Yet, with so much happiness surrounding us, we felt like something was missing. We felt as though we were holding our truest selves back. We had a burning passion to travel and see more of this beautiful country, yet we kept allowing doubt to sink in and cloud our vision. The fear of letting people down, uprooting our lives, and purely the unknown… kept us from taking any action toward vanlife. Read More>>

Lewis “louie Lee” Hensley

During Covid and shows slowing down, I decided to take my education more serious as a recording engineer so that I could start becoming a full-time music producer for myself and other artists in Michigan. During that time, I also lost a lot of people close to me to Covid and in honoring them I created my project Louie Lee. I made music therapy to heal my pain and I call it Country Hop And Roll. The Louie Lee Show starring Louie Lee is now my full-time focus and I spend day today working on it with my team to make it something successful for everyone involved. Read More>>

Bri Danielle

So, one day I headed to Ulta Beauty and spent about $200 on makeup products and sat down and did my full face of makeup. I looked crazy but I knew that was a part of the process of learning. I was obsessed with nailing it, so I practiced everyday. I would go to school and my job at the bank with pink and purple eyeshadow on. Looking back, I’m sure I looked out of place with so much makeup on but I loved it! Read More>>

Amy Olds

I left the workforce to be home with my boys over a decade ago and began a lifestyle blog with an emphasis in motherhood. Becoming a mother was a struggle but soon learned about the incredible community of mothers that could completely relate. In 2016, I started my blog, The Gilded Wife because on the outside, life appeared covered in gold but really, we were all on similar journeys in need of community. Read More>>

Gabby Wright

A year or two later, I began shadowing and second shooting with a friend who was in the wedding photography business. It was a whole new world for me! I felt like I had no idea what I was doing and was so anxious I was going to screw something up, but second shooting weddings for several years was so beneficial to my learning process. It equipped me with the experience and confidence I needed to start my own business. After second shooting for a few years and photographing weddings on my own here and there, I decided it was time to make the leap and officially started my photography business back in 2021. Read More>>

Connor Tierney

Sales have been the biggest challenge. Specifically finding the right customer for an expensive bar of chocolate. Be it wholesale retail locations or the right demographic of end customer. Another big challenge is simply shipping during the summer. I turned off my online store the first half of this summer before I decided to let the customer make that decision. If they want to pay $50 for overnight shipping, more power to them and that decision allowed me to maintain a slow trickle of online sales in addition to the farmers market. Read More>>

Rhea Aka Maria Van Atta

I had already purchased the building that would become the Old Town General store by this time. Lots of people-men, mostly, advised me not to do it. But why listen?? As you can imagine, it was a very busy couple of years organizing all of these activities. To make a long story short, I opened my store in 2013, focusing on locally sourced products. The store has evolved over the years but the mission is still the same. We are Michigan based and love our state and all the wonderful things it has to offer. This mantra has really helped me stay focused on our goals Read More>>

N’kengé Robertson

During the last 10+ years of my educational endeavor journey, I have really focused on how Black & Brown youth in urban public schools are continuously disenfranchised due to the racial violence that takes place in educational spaces and I have continuously worked to break down the systemic racism through my classroom practices as a educator. As of 2024, I have opened Accountability Counts Learning space, my first brick-and-mortar offering tutoring for youth in grades K-12. Accountability Counts Learning Space is an education service company focused on educating the whole person emotionally, mentally, and academically while using research-based evidence to improve the growth of our youth. Read More>>

Hayden Hahn

Initially, I envisioned The Share Kindness Project as a modest endeavor within my church community. The plan was to run a short-term campaign, spreading acts of kindness for a few weeks. However, as I delved deeper into the world of non-profits, a broader vision emerged. Why limit such a powerful initiative to a fleeting moment? Why not create a sustainable movement that would touch lives year-round? Read More>>

Hassan Zayat

My father was an electrician by trade, so I have been around construction since I could walk. Growing up, I would walk through homes that were under construction with my dad and I remember envisioning all the possibilities of different layouts and designs. This is where my passion for architecture began. Read More>>

Dominique Thomas

My name is Dominique Thomas, and I am a self-published urban fiction author. My passion for writing began at age fifteen when I wrote my first book. Unfortunately, I lost that manuscript because I didn’t have a backup. Fast forward to 2014—I submitted my work to a publisher, received a contract, and officially began my writing career. Since then, I have dedicated myself to writing, self-publishing over fifteen best-selling novels on Amazon. My books are also available on platforms like Barnes & Noble and can be found in many libraries nationwide. Whenever possible, I attend book events across the country to connect with readers. Read More>>

Nataliia Steele

Hi everybody. I will tell you my story now. I was born in beautiful and big city of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Which is very close to russian border. There were many theaters, universities, libraries, restaurants, museums etc. After my parents got married they rented little room in very little underground house. I and my brother were born there. I remember I could see people’s feet through our windows , because those windows were exactly on a ground. Read More>>

Ryan Davis

What started as a simple idea has now grown into a respected salon in the Downtown Farmington scene. Over the years, we’ve become known for our expert haircuts, vibrant color transformations, luxurious treatments, and a team that is dedicated to making every client feel their best. Whether you’re looking for a chic new style, a fresh color, or a rejuvenating treatment, our team has the skill and vision to bring your hair goals to life. Read More>>

Anna Parks

Like many people, during the first big shutdown from Covid-19, I had nothing but time to think about where I was at in life and where I was going. I realized that I had gotten as far as my barber shop job could take me, and that I was ready to transition into doing something more meaningful with my career. By the time my place of work opened back up a few months later, I felt ready to take the leap into following my own path as both a stylist and business owner. By the start of 2021, I was taking clients in my home hair studio under the name “Anna Mopchopper.”  Read More>>

Karen Buscemi

Eventually, I got a job as an art director. While I was there, I told the owner that the copywriting his was paying for was awful, and he should let me take a stab at it since he was already paying me. He agreed, and that how I started my copywriting career. On the side, I took a chance at journalism assignments at very small newspapers and grew that until I was writing for national publications. That led to editing fashion magazines where I styled fashion shoots, met with iconic designers, MC’d events and sat on various panels. I even gave a Ted talk. Read More>>

Samantha Tate

I recovered back to pre-psychosis self around April 2011 and got down my cards and woo woo books from the attic. I decided to use this time to readjust what I believed in and what I needed to stay away from. I also wanted to get reacquainted with the cards. I discovered I never lost my tarot reading gift! I didn’t resume going professional until 2013. Read More>>

Mekaelia Witherspoon

I don’t remember a year that I didn’t take choir at school or at church.. In my teens for work I would do hair and my dad would from time to time let one of his clients hire me for studio music background recording for their projects.. At 17 I got to join my parents band, that helped me get my chops wet and keep some money in my pockets at the same time. I’ve always been a food lover especially growing up around my grandma I loved her cooking. We watched plenty of Oprah and cooking shows, she made sure I picked up a few things. 2017 I birthed my business baby “Extreme Versatility” a beauty, fashion accessories and wellness brand. About 2021 I decided step out on faith and really began showcasing the things I’m most truly passionate about, my music, Extreme Versatility and delicious cuisine Read More>>

Mercedes Lopez Duran

I always wanted to be a teacher growing up. After finishing middle school, I was not able to attend high school and stayed home with my grandmother to help raise my younger siblings. Years later, once I was married and with one child, I started working in restaurants to support my family. With no experience or education, managers would only place me in the kitchen washing dishes. As a result of my curiosity, I began to observe other cooks at their jobs, attempting to learn and help them whenever possible. It wasn’t long before I discovered my passion for creating recipes and cooking.  Read More>>